Expanded-metal-lath machine



F. C. AREYH EXPANDED METAL LATH MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED MN. 27, I919.

Patented July 12, 1921.

6 SHEETS SHEET h N mp! F. C. AREY.

EXPANDED Mam LATH MACHINE.

Patented Juiy 12, 15. 21,

11 SHIRTS SHEET 2 Lilli 11 27 92 (7/?? 21/ F. C. AREY.

EXPA"-H1NE'MLLATH MACHINE.

AWLHJAEJFN FUEL JAN. 2?. l9l9.

L3S L376B Patented July 12, 1.921.

6 SiiEH'S-SHEET 3,

P mnted July 12, 19

r EU EXPANDED METAL LATH MMIHSNE.

MPUCAHON mm me S-$HEET '5 6 SHEEI Patented J uly 12 F, C. AREY.

EXPANDED METAL LATH MACHiNE.

APPLICATION Hm) mu 2:. 19:9.

which time a pleted lath embraces a UNlTED STA res . rm 0. annxjjor OAK PARK, ILLINOIS.

j ExrannEn-mn'rarrmrn MAC INE.

Toallwko'm it may concern."-

- Be it. lmown that I, FRED C. a'citi- Zen of the United States," and a resident ofthe city of ()algParhin the county, of,Cook f and- State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Metal-Lath Mac es; and I do hereby declare that-the following is a full, clear; and exact descri tion of the. same, reference being had tof e acoom anying'draw' ,and to the numerals of re rence markedt fizreon,

part oithis specification.

This invention relates to an improved form of an exp .nded'metal lath machine wherein mechanisms. are provided to soout and expand a sheet of metal that the complurality of sections; formed with adjacent sections expanded in different directions and separated from each otllier by depressed ribs or reinforcing channe 5.

It is an object of this invention to-provide an improved expanded metal lath ma.- chine adapted to produce expanded lath havingintegral unexpanded ribs separating the expanded portions. L

It is also an object of the invention to provide a lath machine wherein cutters are adapted to out a sheet .of metal so that the 1 cut sections are separated by plain uncut sections, and with the cuts in adjacent out sections disposed in difl'erent directions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lath machine wherein a'sheet of metal is first cut, then expanded and then shaped to rib the plain longitudinal pol'tionsyvhich separate the expan of metal.

A further object of the invention isto construct a lath machine having arbbrs provided with spiral cutters sitioned to so cut a sheet of metal passed t erebetwee'h that a plain strip of metal is left between each two adjacently disposed sections whichhave the cuts therein directed in dilferentdirections.

It is furthermore an object of the inven-.

tion to' construct a lath machine provided with cutters, guides. expanders and formers adapted to successively act upon a sheet of metal to produce a finished lath wherein f specification of Letters ramp. Application filed Iannary 2 7,

Improvements-in Exp .ndedthe ends of the ed sections of the sheet" 1919'. Serial m euaoe.

. V Patented July 12, 1921.

a plurality-of parallel longitndinally dis" posed channel ribs are formed to se arate the cut sections which are expanded in diferent directions. 1 Another object of the invention is the constructlon of of arbors are provided with adapted to cut a sheet of metal to permit the same to be expanded and formed to produce a lath machine wherein a pair I spaced cutters embracing spaced diagonallydisposed blades a lath wherein adjacently disposed cut sec-.

'tions are expanded and are so I is an nnportant object of this Invention to ovid alath strnction adapted to successively cut, ex-

in different directions parated by depressed integral ribs.

machine of eflective oonpend, form and straighten out finished'expended metal laths wherein uncut reinforcing ribsseparate the cut sections which are expanded in different directions.

Other and further important objects of this invention will beapparent from the disclosures in the specification and drawingshe invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully' described. a

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a rear pended metal lath principles of this invention.

Fig. 2 is aitop plan view thereof showing metal lath broken away.

Fig.3 is a front side elevation of the machine.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4-4, of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line 66, of Fig. 2, showing parts in elevation,

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation, taken on line Fig. 8 is a section taken on Fig. 4., with parts shown in elevation.

Fig. 9 is a section taken o'n'line 9-9, of F ig. 4, with parts shown in elevation.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary detail section taken on line lfi-].0, of Fig. 5,.with parts omitted.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentaryplan side elevation of an exmachine embodying the spaced teeth 34, integrally formed on the inner peripheral edge thereof. Radial slots 35, are provided on each side near the outer margin of each cutter segmenhend said radial slots 35, are arrangedwith those on one side staggered with respect to those on the other side. The cutter 'se ents are engaged spirally around theri bed middle aror portion 26, with the teeth 34, engaging in the grooves formed between the arbor ribs 26. The cutter segments are separated one from the other by :means of spacing segments 36, each a little ater' than a half circle and of a diameter ess thaii that of the cutter se cuts 33. A pair of oppositely disposed integral teeth 37, are formed on the inner peripheral edge of each of the spacing segments 3p, and .said teeth are adapted to lockingl'y .bngage in certain of the grooves of the ribbed middle portion 26, of an arbor to properly position the spacing segment to separate two ofv the cutter" segments. The notched portions 31, of the spacing rings 30, are adapted to receive the ends of the cutter segments and the spacing segments seated therein to form a snug fit, as clearly shown in Fig. 11. The cutters 29, of the upper and lower-arbors are disposed to co-act with each other so that the cutting segments 33, of a lower cutter are offset with respect to the cutting se ments of a cutter disposed thereabovewit which it is to co-act as shown in detail in Fig. 14,

Keyed upon the bearing portion 24, of the lower arbor and to the outside of .the front frame member 13, is a ar 38, which meshes with another gear 39, eyed upon the front end of the shaft 11. Keyed upon the end of the portion 24, of the upper arbor is a gear 40, which is in mesh with a gear 41, secured upon the shaft 15, to the outside of the rear frame 1314. The gear 41, receives its drive from a gear 42, with which it meshes. Said gear 42, is keyed or otherwise secured on the shaft 11, below the gear 41. Mounted securely upon the shaft 11, to the outside of the car 42, is a spiral gear 43, which is in-enes witha spiral pinion or gear 44, mounted upon one end of a main shaft 45, which islongitudinally disposed upon the machine base 1, toward the rear edge thereof and rotatably sup orted by means of suitable uprights or eurin standards 46, mounted on the base 1. lfeyed to themh (lle portion of the main shaft 45, is a spiral pinion or gear 47, and a similar spiral pinion or gear 48, is mounted upon the other end of said shaft 45.

Securely mounted upon the base 1. about midway between the ends thereof is a pair of supportingframes or walls 49. Supported by the frames 13-44, and the frames 49, are a pair of parallel longitudinull disosed sills or earns 50, to which a table 51, 15 secured. Rotatab] y supported in the sills with a pinion 55, keyed upon. a shaft-56.- The shaft56, is journaled m a yoke frarne 57, which is pivotally mounted upona trans verse axle 58, supported by uprights, 59, mounted on the sills 50. p A ide roller 60', is mounted on ,the shaft 5 between the arms of the yoke frame 57, Heavy controlling springs 61, are mounted upon the yoke frame 57, and are connected to the sills .50, to permit the roller 66, to yieldably engage against and guide metallic lath movi through the machine over the table 51. roller 62, is mounted upon the shaft 52 and projects upwardl above the table 51, to coact with the ro ler 60, to afford suitable guides for themetal lath as it moves through the machine between said rollers 60 and 62.

The frames 49, are provided with suitable openings which open through the top of the frames and are closed by top plates or bars 63. The "first slots or openings in the frames 49, are inclined toward the discharge end of the machine, and have mounted therein lower bearing blocks 64, for rotatably supporting a transverse shaft 65, 'upon which a guide roller 66, is mounted between the frames 49. Disposed within the inclined opening above the lower blocks 64, are upper bearing blocks 67, for rotatably supporting a transverse upper shaft 68, having a 'g11ide roller 69, thereon between the frames 49. The upper blocks 67, are adapted to be adjusted by means of adjusting bolts 70, which thread throu h the bars 63, and engage said blocks 67. gear or pinion 71, is secured on the front end of the upper shaft'68, and meshes with a gear or pinion 72, mounted on the front end of the lower shaft 65; A sprocket wheel is mounted upon the rear end of the lower shaft 65, and has engaged. therearound a continuous driving chain 73, which also is trained around the sprocket wheel 53, on th shaft 52. A spiral gear or pinion 74, is also secured on the rear end of the shaft 65, and is in mesh with a spiral gear or pinion 75, keyed upon-"the upperend of an inclined shaft 76, rotatably supported on the outer or rear surface of the res frame 49. Mounted in the middle openings of the frames 49, are lower bearing blocks 77, which end of the shaft 78, and meshes with'nrgear 85;, mounted upon the front end of urn-upper spaoing'collarsor rings 97.

shaft 84, which is journaled in upper hear ing blocks 85, disposed within the middle openings of the frames 49, above the lower blocks 77. Adjusting bolts 86, are threaded through the bars 63, and engage said. upper blocks 85. A plurality of forming wheels or disks 87, are mounted upon the upper shaft 84, and have the periphery thereof bev eled from the center toward both sides to permit said wheels 87, to co-acl; and inter-fit with the lower grooved forming wheels 7 9. The upper formin wheels 87, are separated from. each other y spacing collars 88, as clearly shown in Fig. 8. A spiral gear 89, is keyed upon the rear end of the lower shaft 78, and said spiral gear meshes with a middle spiral gear or pinion 90, keyed upon the inclined shaft 76. Also keyed upon the inclined shaft 76,

below the spiral gear 90, is a driving spiral ear 91, which meshes with the spiral gear 4:, on the main shaft 4.5:

Disposed in the third or deepest set of openings in the frames 19, are lower hearing blocks 92, which rotatabl support a lower transverse shaft 93. A spiral ear 94, is keyed upon the rear end of sai lower shaft 93, and meshes with a spiral gear 95, secured upon the lower portion of the inclined shaft 76. Secured upon the lower shaft 93, are three small V-grooved forming wheels-96, separated from one another by A small gear 98, is keyed upon the front end of the lower shaft 93, and is in mesh with a large gear 99, secured upon the front end of an upper transverse shaft 100. The upper shaft.100, is journaled in upper bearin r block 101, dis posed above the lower blows 92. Secured upon the upper shaft 100, are three large forming wheels 102,- which have the periphcry thereof beveled toward both sides to permlt-sa'id large wheels to co-act or interfit with the small grooved forming wheels disposed therebelow. The large forming wheels 102, are separated from each other by spacin r collars 103. Adjusting bolts 104, are three ed through the bars 63, and engage the "upper blocks 101, to permit adjustment of said blocks.

Securely mounted'upon the base 1, at the discharge end of the machine are two supporting frames or standards 105, spaced apart and having angle brackets 106, mounted thereon. Brackets 100, ul'e also secured to the frames 19. Supported on. the angle brackets 106, are four parallel forming rails 107, having the. upper surfaces thereof pro vided with V-grooves. The forming rails are disposed between the forming wheels 102, and above the spacingcollars The forming rails 107. span the space between the frames 49, and the frames. 105.

Rotatably mounted upon the frames 105, is a transverse shaft 10 havinp a spiral gear 109, keyed upon the rear end thereof to mesh with the spiral driving gear 4-8, on the main shaft 45. Secured upon the shaft 108, are seven forming wheels 110, provided with rounded circumferential grooves 111. The grooved forming or shaping wheels 110, are separated from each ot'ier by spacing collars 112. Integralk formed on the top and near the inner ends of each of the frames 105, is a pair of upright supports or lugs 113, for 'pivotally supportin one end of an arm 114. Journaled in t 1e other ends of the two parallel arms 114, is a transverse shaft 115, having seven male forming wheels 116, secured thereon and separated from each other by spacing collars 117. Each male forming wheel 116, has a rounded bead or rib 118, integrally formed centrally on the periphery thereof to engage in one of the rounded grooves of the female as shown in Fig. 9. A gear 119, is keyed upon the front end of the shaft 115, and is adapted to mesh with a gear 120, keyed upon the front end of the lower shaft 105;

Rotatably suppoited by the two frames 105, are 4 pluralit of lower straightening rollers 121, dispose parallel to each other in a horizontal plane and each having a pinion 1.22, secured on the rear end thereof. Rotatahlv mounted on the outer side of the rear frame 1.05 are four auxiliary pinions 123, each of which is disposed to n ssh with two of the pinions 122, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Keyed upon the front end of the first roller shaft 121, is a pinion 124, which meshes with an intermediate driving pinion. or gear 125, which engages with the gear 120. A large supporting block or casting 126, is disposed above each of the frames 105, and is adjustably connected with the frame 105, by means of two adjusting screws 12?, which project through the block and thread into the frame therebelow. A bevel pinion 12S is secured upon the upper end of each of the adjusting screws 127, and. meshes with a bevel gear 129, rotatably supported on an elbow bracket 130, one of which is integrally formed or rigidly secured upon the top and near each end of the block 126. Each bevel gear 129, is provided with a hand wheel 1.31, to permit manual rotation there' of for turning the screws 127, to raise or lower the blocks 126. Four parallel rollers 132, disposed in a horizontal plane, are rotatahly sup-pelted by the two adjrstahlr, blocks 126. The rollers 132, are alispo :d. above the rollers 152-1, and are slug- .Ld with respect LilOIBtO. Each upper straightening roller 132, has a. pinion 1 3 5, secured pon the rear end thereof. Three auxiliary pinions 13-1. are rotatably mounted on the outer or rear side of the rear frame 3.05), in a position above the pinions 133, two of which mesh with each of said auxiliary pinions 134-. Keyed upon the front and of forming wheels 110, 5:;

the first roller shaft 132, is a pinion-135, which is adapted to mesh with the pinion 124, to receive a drive therefrom.

Mounted above the free cnd'of each of the arms 114,is a controllin spring mechanism 136, the rod of which is connected to the frame 105, therebelow"to afi'ord a means whereby the shaft 115, is adapted to slightly during the operation thereo if necessary.

The operation is a's follows: 17 to 21, inclusivgshow the various steps in the-forlniii ofthe expanded metal lath produced'b' t 'e lath'machine herein before describeg A sheet of metal 137, "fed-into the machine,"as shown in Fig. 1, is

' first conducted between the upper and lower the driving pulle 8, through the shaft 11,

and the main sha t 45, to the spiral gears of which the various mechanisms of. the ma chine are connected asalready described.

The machine being in operation the sheet of metal 137, is drawn through the cutters which act to cut the metal as shown in Fig. 17, so that a plurality of longitudinal cut sections 138 and 139, are formed separated from each other by plain uncut strips 140. The cut sections 138 and 139, are alternately disposed with respect to each other across the lath and have the cuts thereof inclined in different directions with respect to the not cut by the cutters.

The lath is therefore cut as shown in F ig. 17, and is conducted over the table 51, and

between the guide rollers 60 and 62, which also serve to straighten the cut lath.

The upper roller 60, is permitted to swing upwardly about the shaft 58, and said roller 60, through the action of the spring mechanisms 61, is adapted to be bold in contact with the upper surface of the lath. The

'guide rollers (10 and 62. are operated by means of the chain 73. The cut lath is next conducted to the rib forming and expanding mechanisms disosed about in the middle of the machine. Erom the table 51, the cut lath is fed between the guide rollers 66 and 69, from which ire point the cut latlris directed downwardly at an angle, as shown in Fig. 4,.and is fed between the rib forming wheels 79, and 87, which are so spaced that they engage below and abovealternate plain strips .140, of the cut lath, and. act to shape said plainstrips into V-channels 142, as shownin Fig. 19. The V-chauneled and cut lathis then conducted through the expanding portion ofthe machine with the first, third, fifth and seventh V-ribs or channels 142, 'engagin in the V- grooves of the horizontal rails 10?, while the second, fourth and sixth plainniargins, engage under the large forming wheels 102, and above the small grooved wheels 96, as clearly shown in Fig. 7. This arrangement causes the cut sections 138-and 139, to be drawn or expanded downwardly as denoted by the reference numeral 143 and produce the longitudinal corrugations142 as shown in the-lower part of Fig. 19. i From the forming and expanding devices the lat-h is drawn upwardly and spread outwardly, as shown ,in Fig., 2,-and isc0nducted between the finishing iorming wheels 110, and116. The beads 118 ,Iengage in the V-grooves oftlie rib portions 142, and press the same into the rounded grooves 111, to

form the grooved rounded reinforcing ribs 144, which are integral with and separate the expanded portions or sections 145, and 146, of the finished lath. The ex anded sections 1 15 and 146, are alternate y dis osed across the lath and are expanded in difi erent directions due to the peculiar cutting of the cut sections 138 and 139. From the rib forming wheels 110 and 116, the lath is fed between the sets of staggered straightening rollers 121 and 132, which serve to straighten out the lath to produce the finished expanded reinforced metal lath shown in Figs. 20

and 21. I l

The various cutting, guide, forming and expanding devices are adapted to be. adjusted to receive lath of different thicknesses. The adjustment of the various devices is adapted to be made through the respective adjusting screw and screw bolts, and is believed to be self-evident.

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. The coinbimitiou with a lath machine, of rotatublc :irbors forming it part there-oi, spacers on said arl'mrs, and a plurality of diagonally positioned cutter seguwuts so curely disposed lwuvccn each pair of said spacers to Form cutters adapiwl to actupon a metal sheet to diagonally cut slots in parallel longitudinal sections of said metal sheet leaving plain sections separating the cut sections, said cutters being positioned so that the slots in two sections separated by a plain section are diagonally directed in diii'ercnfi directions.

2. In a lath machine the combination with a, pair of adjuslably mounted arbors, spacing collars secured on each thereof, and cutters separating the spacing collars from each other, each of said cutters comprising a plurality of slotted cutter segments disposed spirally around said arbors, and spirally positioned spacer segments separating said cutter segments.

In a. lath machine the combination with a pair of arbors mechanisms for rotating the same, longitudinal ribs integrally formed on the middle portion of each of s-Aid arbors, notched spacing collars engaged on. the ribbed middle portion of each of S11 id arbors, and cutiers separating said spacing collars one from the other, each of said. cutters embracing a plurality of radially slotted cutter segments-diposed spirtdly around said arbors and interfitting with the ribs thereof, and spirally positioned spacer segments separating said cutter segments and also interfitting with said arbor ribs.

4. In a lath machine the combination with a driving mechanism, or". a pair of arbors driven thereby, ribs integrally formed longitudinally on the middle poi-lion of each of said erbors, spiral cutters on each of said arbor-s interfitting with the ribs thereof, notched spacing collars separating said spiral cutters and jinterfittin with said spiral cutters and with said of .10! ribs, and means for securely clamping said spiral cutters and said spacing collars in position,"

5. A metal cutti mechanism comprising a plurality of spirally arranged cutting elements having supporting serrated surfaces, a shaft having a correspondin serrated surface for. cooperating therewitii, and spirally arranged spacing elements having lugs for cooperating with said, serreted'shaft and arrangedbetween saidcntting elements.

6. A metal cutting mechanism for cutting diagonal slots, cmnprising a plurality of sub stantially semi-circular cutting elements spirally arranged, spacing elements between said cutting elements, and a supporting member interlocked with said elements.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my-name in tlie presence of two subscribing witnesses. k

FRED G. AREY.

Witnesses: j 4

E531; M. Hnnmmi', CHARLES W. HILLS, Jr, f 

